Vancouver has had a few city hall buildings; the first was a draped tent at the old Granville Townsite (1886) at the foot of Carrall St after the Great Fire. The first real structure was a building on Powell St, followed by a building on Main St just south of the Carnegie Library. The Holden […]

Ever wonder what it was like to be a tourist in Vancouver 100 years ago? Now you can get a small glimpse at the experience with these vintage photos of sightseeing in Vancouver from 1900-1950. Sightseeing in Vancouver Last week was Vancouver Heritage Week, a part of a national campaign with the tourism theme of […]

The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is celebrating Vancouver Heritage Week February 15th to 21st as a part of Heritage Week in BC. Spearheaded by Heritage BC, and kicking off with National Heritage Day celebrated Canada wide, this year the theme is “Distinctive Destinations: Experience Historic Places”. 1911: Sightseeing in Stanley Park at Hollow Tree. Archives# St […]

The History of Lost Lagoon in Vancouver, BC on the edge of Stanley Park. 1894-2016. Photos from the Vancouver Archives and more

10 Vancouver Coffee Shop Photos from the Archives

Maple Tree Square sits at one of the most photographed, and most historic, intersections in Vancouver where Water, Powell, Alexander, and Carrall streets meet. It dates back to the time when Vancouver was called Granville Townsite, and when John “Gassy Jack” Deighton opened the area’s first saloon in 1867. Deighton had paddled over from New […]

It’s one of Vancouver’s lost landmarks and all that remains are pieces of its opulent interior, which can be found in antique shops or repurposed home decor, occasionally unbeknownst to the homeowner. From 1916 to 1949, the Second Hotel Vancouver stood on West Georgia Street between Howe and Granville. Built in a grand Italianate revival […]

As we ring in the new year, we often look back as we move forward. Thanks to the late, great Chuck Davis for his History of Metropolitan Vancouver, and the City of Vancouver Archives, we can take note of some major events and milestones that happened 100 years ago in Vancouver: Vancouver in 1916 February […]

Robson and Granville on May 4, 1969 Photographer: Ernie H. Reksten Archives: #2010-006.097 This image made available by the City of Vancouver Archives. Click here for the large version, to spot stores like House of Christmas, Manly Hat Shop, and Ladies City. This intersection sure has changed over the years. In the 1970s it became […]

Since the beginning of the month, poppies have adorned the left lapels of Canadians and on Remembrance Day, through ceremonies, memorials, and services, veterans will be honoured across the country. There are several events taking place around Metro Vancouver, as there have been for decades, with the cenotaph at Victory Square being one of the […]